U.S. patent number 10,602,567 [Application Number 15/633,876] was granted by the patent office on 2020-03-24 for methods, devices, and systems for discontinuous reception for a shortened transmission time interval and processing time.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Motorola Mobility LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC. Invention is credited to Hossein Bagheri, Ravi Kuchibhotla, Vijay Nangia, Ravikiran Nory.
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United States Patent |
10,602,567 |
Bagheri , et al. |
March 24, 2020 |
Methods, devices, and systems for discontinuous reception for a
shortened transmission time interval and processing time
Abstract
A method and apparatus for discontinuous reception for a
shortened transmission time interval and processing time includes a
device receiving, from a network, an indication to enable a first
TTI which is a shorter TTI than a second TTI for which the device
can be enabled. The method further includes the device switching
from monitoring for data transmission scheduling assignments under
the control of a DRX configuration associated with the second
transmission time interval to monitoring for the data transmission
scheduling assignments based on the first transmission time
interval.
Inventors: |
Bagheri; Hossein (Urbana,
IL), Nory; Ravikiran (Buffalo Grove, IL), Nangia;
Vijay (Woodridge, IL), Kuchibhotla; Ravi (Clarendon
Hills, IL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
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Assignee: |
Motorola Mobility LLC (Chicago,
IL)
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Family
ID: |
61159707 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/633,876 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20180049271 A1 |
Feb 15, 2018 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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62374740 |
Aug 12, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W
72/1284 (20130101); H04W 72/1289 (20130101); H04W
52/0209 (20130101); H04L 27/2601 (20130101); H04W
72/12 (20130101); H04W 76/28 (20180201); H04W
24/02 (20130101); H04W 72/14 (20130101); H04L
1/1883 (20130101); H04W 72/042 (20130101); Y02D
70/00 (20180101); Y02D 70/1224 (20180101); Y02D
70/12 (20180101); H04L 1/1812 (20130101); H04W
52/0216 (20130101); Y02D 70/126 (20180101); Y02D
70/1242 (20180101); Y02D 70/24 (20180101); Y02D
70/10 (20180101); Y02D 70/20 (20180101); Y02D
70/122 (20180101); Y02D 70/146 (20180101); Y02D
70/26 (20180101); Y02D 30/70 (20200801); Y02D
70/142 (20180101); H04W 88/08 (20130101); Y02D
70/1262 (20180101); H04W 88/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04W
76/28 (20180101); H04L 1/18 (20060101); H04W
72/12 (20090101); H04L 27/26 (20060101); H04W
72/14 (20090101); H04W 24/02 (20090101); H04W
52/02 (20090101); H04W 72/04 (20090101); H04W
88/02 (20090101); H04W 88/08 (20090101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
3GPP, Technical Specification 23.401 V14.0.0, Jun. 2016, pp.
297-299, 3GPP Organizational Partners, France. cited by applicant
.
3GPP, Technical Specification 36.321 V14.0.0, Sep. 2016, pp. 28-37;
pp. 43-46; and p. 87, 3GPF Organizational Partners, France. cited
by applicant .
Kumar Swamy Pasupuleti, How LTE Stuff Works? Connected Mode DRX,
http://howltestuffworks.blogspot.com/2014106/connected-mode-drx.html,
Jun. 29, 2014. cited by applicant .
Nokia, Legacy TTI Processing Time Considerations for Supporting
Latency Reduction R1-164947, May 2016, 3GPP Organizational
Partners, France. cited by applicant .
PCT International Search Report for PCT/US2017/046649, Motorola
Mobility LLC, dated Sep. 26, 2017. cited by applicant .
PCT International Search Report for PCT/US2017/046655, Motorola
Mobility LLC, dated Nov. 21, 2017. cited by applicant .
Nokia Networks et al., "Considerations of FDD DL HARQ for
Supporting Latency Reduction", R1-160798, for 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1
Meeting #84, St. Julian's, Malta, Feb. 15-19, 2016. cited by
applicant .
Intel Corporation, "Protocol impact of TTI reduction", R2-154296,
for 3GPP TSG-RAN WG2 Meeting #91bis, Malmo, Sweeden, Oct. 5-9,
2015. cited by applicant .
Ericsson, "Impact of sTTI on MAC timers and DRX", R2-1701608, for
3GPP TSG-RAN WG2 #97, Athens, Greece, Feb. 13-17, 2017. cited by
applicant .
3GPP TR 36.881 V14.0.0 (Jun. 2016), 3rd Generation Partnership
Project, Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network,
Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), Study on
latency reduction techniques for LTE (Release 14). cited by
applicant .
ETSI TS 136 321 V13.2.0 (Aug. 2016), Technical Specification,
LTE--Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA)--Medium
Access Control (MAC) protocol specification (3GPP TS 36.321 version
13.2.0 Release 13). cited by applicant .
Hailu, Notice of References Cited, PTO-892, U.S. Appl. No.
15/633,908, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, May 30, 2019. cited
by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Hailu; Kibrom T
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Loppnow & Chapa
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
The present application is related to and claims benefit under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Ser. No. 62/374,740, filed Aug. 12, 2016, titled "Methods, Devices,
and Systems for Discontinuous Reception for a Shortened
Transmission Time Interval and Processing Time", which is commonly
owned with this application by Motorola Mobility LLC, and the
entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
We claim:
1. A method performed by a device, the method comprising:
receiving, from a network, an indication to enable a first
transmission time interval which is a shorter transmission time
interval than a second transmission time interval; wherein the
first transmission time interval is associated with a first
discontinuous reception configuration, and the second transmission
time interval is associated with a second discontinuous reception
configuration, wherein the first and second discontinuous reception
configurations comprise different discontinuous reception
parameters, the method further comprising determining a third
discontinuous reception configuration based on the first and second
discontinuous reception configurations, and enabling the third
discontinuous reception configuration to control monitoring for the
data transmission scheduling assignments based on one or both of
the first or the second transmission time intervals.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmission time
interval comprises a first set of OFDM symbols, and the second
transmission time interval comprises a second set of OFDM
symbols.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first transmission time
interval has a shorter length than the second transmission time
interval; or the first transmission time interval has a same length
as the second transmission time interval but is associated with a
shorter data transmission processing time than a data transmission
processing time associated with the second transmission time
interval.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second transmission time
interval is a transmission time interval with which the device is
enabled upon initially connecting to the network.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring for data transmission
scheduling assignments comprises one or both of: attempting to
decode data transmission scheduling assignments; or continuously
monitoring for data transmission scheduling assignments.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein continuously monitoring for data
transmission scheduling assignments comprises disabling a
discontinuous reception functionality associated with the second
transmission time interval.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: receiving, from the
network, an indication to disable the first transmission time
interval; enabling the discontinuous reception configuration
associated with the second transmission time interval; and
monitoring for the data transmission scheduling assignments under
the control of the discontinuous reception configuration associated
with the second transmission time interval.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmission time
interval is associated with a first discontinuous reception
configuration, and the second transmission time interval is
associated with a second discontinuous reception configuration,
wherein the first and second discontinuous reception configurations
comprise different discontinuous reception parameters, the method
further comprising: enabling the first discontinuous reception
configuration using the associated discontinuous reception
parameters to control monitoring for the data transmission
scheduling assignments based on the first transmission time
interval.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first discontinuous reception
configuration provides a longer active time for monitoring for the
data transmission scheduling assignments than the second
discontinuous reception configuration.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the discontinuous reception
parameters for the first discontinuous reception configuration
comprises a first on-duration timer value, and the discontinuous
reception parameters for the second discontinuous reception
configuration comprises a second on-duration timer value, wherein
the longer active time is due at least in part to the first
on-duration timer value being larger than the second on-duration
timer value.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising: receiving first
discontinuous reception parameters for the first discontinuous
reception configuration and second discontinuous reception
parameters for the second discontinuous reception configuration,
from the network, before receiving the indication to enable the
first transmission time interval; and selecting the first
transmission time interval and configuring the device using the
first discontinuous reception parameters, after receiving the
indication to enable the first transmission time interval, to
enable the first discontinuous reception configuration.
12. The method of claim 8 further comprising: receiving second
discontinuous reception parameters for the second discontinuous
reception configuration, from the network, before receiving the
indication to enable the first transmission time interval; and
receiving first discontinuous reception parameters for the first
discontinuous reception configuration, from the network, at the
time of or after receiving the indication to enable the first
transmission time interval, wherein the first discontinuous
reception parameters are used to enable the first discontinuous
reception configuration.
13. The method of claim 1 where determining the third discontinuous
reception configuration comprises determining a union of at least
one of the discontinuous reception parameters of the first and
second discontinuous reception configurations.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a union of at least
one of the discontinuous reception parameters of the first and
second discontinuous reception configurations comprises one or both
of: determining a union of a first active time for monitoring for
the data transmission scheduling assignments and a second active
time for monitoring for the data transmission scheduling
assignments, wherein the first active time is provided by the first
discontinuous reception configuration and the second active time is
provided by the second discontinuous reception configuration; or
determining a union of a first inactive time for monitoring for the
data transmission scheduling assignments and a second inactive time
for monitoring for the data transmission scheduling assignments,
wherein the first inactive time is provided by the first
discontinuous reception configuration and the second inactive time
is provided by the second discontinuous reception
configuration.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring for data transmission
scheduling assignments based on the first transmission time
interval comprises monitoring for the data transmission scheduling
assignments under the control of a discontinuous reception
configuration associated with the first transmission time interval
which comprises a set of discontinuous reception parameters, the
method further comprising: configuring the device for an active
time for performing the monitoring and an inactive time for
disabling the monitoring, wherein the active and inactive times are
based on a first parameter of the set of discontinuous reception
parameters; and detecting only one part of a two-part scheduling
assignment while monitoring during the active time, and resultantly
extending the active time by an additional time period to continue
performing the monitoring, wherein the additional time period is
based on a second parameter of the set of discontinuous reception
parameters.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring for data transmission
scheduling assignments based on the first transmission time
interval comprises monitoring for the data transmission scheduling
assignments under the control of a discontinuous reception
configuration associated with the first transmission time interval,
which comprises a set of discontinuous reception parameters having
a first timer value and a second timer value, wherein the first
timer value specifies an amount of time between detecting a
transmission, while performing the monitoring, and starting a timer
for the second timer value, wherein the first timer value is
adjustable based on one or more adjustment factors.
17. The method of claim 8, wherein at least a value of a
discontinuous reception transmission timer of the first
discontinuous reception configuration and a value of a
discontinuous reception transmission timer of the second
discontinuous reception configuration are different.
18. A device comprising: a communication interface and processor
operatively coupled together to: receive, from a network, an
indication to enable a first transmission time interval which is a
shorter transmission time interval than a second transmission time
interval for which the device can be enabled; wherein the first
transmission time interval is associated with a first discontinuous
reception configuration, and the second transmission time interval
is associated with a second discontinuous reception configuration,
wherein the first and second discontinuous reception configurations
comprise different discontinuous reception parameters, the method
further comprising determining a third discontinuous reception
configuration based on the first and second discontinuous reception
configurations, and enabling the third discontinuous reception
configuration to control monitoring for the data transmission
scheduling assignments based on one or both of the first or the
second transmission time intervals.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication
and more particularly to methods, devices, and systems for
discontinuous reception for a shortened transmission time interval
length and/or shortened processing time associated with a given
transmission time interval length.
BACKGROUND
In Long-Term Evolution (LTE), time-frequency resources can be
divided into 1 millisecond (ms) subframes, where each 1 ms subframe
includes two 0.5 ms slots, and each slot (with normal cyclic prefix
(CP) durations) includes seven single carrier frequency-division
multiplexing (SC-FDMA) symbols in the time domain for uplink (UL)
communication and seven orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing
(OFDM) symbols in the time domain for downlink (DL) communication.
In the frequency domain, resources within a slot are divided into
physical resource blocks (PRBs), where each resource block spans 12
contiguous subcarriers.
In current LTE systems, resources are usually assigned using a 1 ms
minimum transmission time interval (TTI) when data is available for
transmission between an eNodeB (eNB) and user equipment (UE). This
is referred to as dynamic scheduling. Within each scheduled TTI for
UL communication, a UE transmits data over a physical uplink shared
channel (PUSCH) in PRB-pairs indicated by an uplink grant to the UE
from an eNB that schedules the data transmission. For DL
communication, the eNB transmits data over a physical downlink
shared channel (PDSCH) in PRB-pairs preceded by a DL assignment
from the eNB. The DL assignment information is provided to the UE
in a control channel, which is generally referred to as a physical
downlink control channel (PDCCH).
Discontinuous reception (DRX) functionality is used in LTE to allow
UEs to conserve power. Without DRX, a UE is always awake and
continuously monitors all subframes of a PDCCH for DL assignments.
With DRX, the UE powers down a portion of its circuitry during a
DRX sleep mode when there are no expected data packets to be
received. The eNB configures DRX with a set of DRX parameters
shared with the UE. These DRX parameters can be application
dependent such that power and resource savings are maximized. The
eNB then schedules DL assignments during periods when the UE is
actively monitoring for them.
While DRX operation results in power savings, it comes at the
expense of latency. On average, a UE using DRX receives
transmissions later as compared to when DRX is not used. This delay
can be problematic when the transmissions are associated with a
time-sensitive application executing on the UE.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to
identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate
views, together with the detailed description below, are
incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to
further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed
invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those
embodiments.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram illustrating an environment that
supports discontinuous reception for a shortened TTI length and/or
a shortened processing time associated with a given TTI length in
accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 2 shows a logical flow diagram illustrating a method for
monitoring for data transmission scheduling assignments based on a
shortened TTI in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 3 shows time sequence diagrams illustrating DRX operation
utilizing both TTIs and shortened TTIs in accordance with some
embodiments.
FIG. 4 shows a time sequence diagram illustrating DRX operation
utilizing both TTIs and shortened TTIs in accordance with an
embodiment.
FIG. 5 shows time sequence diagrams illustrating DRX operation
utilizing both TTIs and shortened TTIs in accordance with some
embodiments.
FIG. 6 shows a time sequence diagram illustrating various DRX
parameters used to establish a DRX cycle in accordance with prior
art.
FIG. 7 shows a time sequence diagram illustrating DRX functionality
for a shortened TTI length and/or shortened processing time in
accordance with an embodiment.
FIG. 8 shows a logical flow diagram illustrating DRX functionality
for a shortened TTI length and/or shortened processing time in
accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 9 shows a logical flow diagram illustrating a method for
determining a timer value based on DRX operation using a shortened
TTI in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 10 shows a time sequence diagram illustrating various DRX
parameters used to establish a DRX cycle in accordance with an
embodiment.
FIG. 11 shows time sequence diagrams illustrating DRX functionality
for a shortened TTI length and/or shortened processing time in
accordance with an embodiment.
FIG. 12 shows a block diagram illustrating a method for determining
a DRX parameter in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 13 shows a block diagram illustrating internal hardware
components of a UE configurable in accordance with some
embodiments.
FIG. 14 shows a block diagram illustrating internal hardware
components of an eNB configurable in accordance with some
embodiments.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are
illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily
been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the
elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other
elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the
present disclosure.
The apparatus and method components have been represented, where
appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only
those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the
embodiments of the present teachings so as not to obscure the
disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments described
herein, the present disclosure provides methods, devices, and
systems for DRX utilizing a shortened TTI (STTI) length and/or
shortened processing time, associated with a given (longer) TTI
length, in a mobile communication network. The mobile communication
network includes at least one access network, such as an LTE
network. At least some UEs are capable of operating in the access
network using multiple TTI lengths, wherein at least one of those
lengths is a STTI length relative to a longer TTI length.
For additional embodiments, UEs are capable of operating using a
shortened processing time while using a TTI of longer length to
receive transmissions. When operating in a DRX mode configured
using DRX parameters associated with the STTI length and/or the
shortened processing time associated with the longer TTI length,
the UE can more efficiently monitor for data transmission
scheduling assignments while still realizing the power savings of
operating in the DRX mode.
A data transmission scheduling assignment, or a scheduling
assignment for a data transmission, is a transmission a UE receives
from an eNB of an access network that provides information and/or
allocates resources to the UE to enable the UE to receive a data
transmission from the eNB. For example, a data transmission
scheduling assignment indicates a PRB and demodulation scheme for a
DL data transmission intended for the UE.
The words "monitor" and "scan" are used interchangeably and refer
to a UE "listening" or "watching" for an incoming wireless
transmission. For example, the UE listens or watches for an
incoming transmission on a PDCCH over a predetermined time
period.
In accordance with the teachings herein, a method performed by a
device includes the device receiving from a network an indication
to enable a first TTI which is a shorter TTI than a second TTI for
which the device can be enabled. The method further includes the
device switching from monitoring for data transmission scheduling
assignments under the control of a DRX configuration associated
with the second transmission time interval to monitoring for the
data transmission scheduling assignments based on the first
transmission time interval.
Also in accordance with the teachings herein is a device having a
communication interface and a processor operatively coupled
together to receive, from a network, an indication to enable a
first transmission time interval which is a shorter transmission
time interval than a second transmission time interval for which
the device can be enabled. The operatively coupled communication
interface and processor additionally switch from monitoring for
data transmission scheduling assignments under the control of a DRX
configuration associated with the second transmission time interval
to monitoring for the data transmission scheduling assignments
based on the first transmission time interval.
For some embodiments, the first TTI has a shorter length than the
second TTI. In other embodiments, the first TTI has a same length
as the second TTI but is associated with a shorter data
transmission processing time than a data transmission processing
time associated with the second TTI. In further embodiments, the
first TTI both has a shorter length than the second TTI and is
associated with a shorter data transmission processing time than
for the second TTI. The term "shorter" when contrasting one TTI
against another longer TTI, for instance, can indicate that the
shorter TTI is shorter in time and/or that a data transmission
received over the course of the shorter TTI is processed more
quickly as compared to a similar data transmission received over
the course of the longer TTI. Data transmission processing time is
described in detail infra with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
In accordance with the teachings herein, a method performed by a
device includes the device monitoring for data transmission
scheduling assignments during an active time of a DRX cycle, and
detecting a transmission during the active time. The method further
includes the device starting a first timer, in response to the
detecting, wherein the first timer is set for a first timer value
that specifies an amount of time between detecting the transmission
and starting a second timer that extends the active time by a
second timer value. The first timer value is determined based on
one or both of a selected first TTI length from multiple TTI
lengths for which the device can be enabled and/or a selected
shorter first processing time over a second processing time
associated with a TTI length used by the device. For some
embodiments, one or both of the first TTI length or the first
processing time is selected based on an indication from a
network.
Also in accordance with the teachings herein is a device having a
communication interface and a processor operatively coupled
together to monitor for data transmission scheduling assignments
during an active time of a discontinuous reception cycle and detect
a transmission during the active time. The operatively coupled
communication interface and processor additionally start a first
timer, in response to the detection, wherein the first timer is set
for a first timer value that specifies an amount of time between
the detection of the transmission and starting a second timer that
extends the active time by a second timer value. The operatively
coupled communication interface and processor determine the first
timer value based on one or both of a selected first transmission
time interval length from multiple transmission time interval
lengths for which the device can be enabled or a selected shorter
first processing time over a second processing time associated with
a transmission time interval length used by the device.
In described embodiments, the aforementioned devices are referred
to as UEs, which send and receive data using a wireless
communication network, such as a high-speed mobile communication
network using the LTE standard of operation. UEs can include, as
later described, smartphones and other electronic data devices,
like phablets and tablets, having cellular capability.
A TTI refers to a time interval for which a radio resource is
allocated to a UE. As used herein, a TTI has associated therewith
an allocated time duration or "length" and a UE and or eNB
processing time duration or simply processing time. Accordingly, a
first TTI that is "shorter" than a second TTI could mean, for
example, that the first TTI has a shorter length than the second
TTI or that the first and second TTIs have the same length but the
first TTI has a shorter associated UE processing time than the
second TTI.
For brevity and clarity in describing some presented embodiments, a
first TTI, which is shorter than a second TTI in length, is also
referred to herein as an "STTI" for "short TTI." The second TTI of
longer length is, thereby, referred to as a "LTTI" for "long TTI"
which for some embodiments conforms with current LTE standards for
a TTI. For example, an LTTI is 1 ms (i.e., one subframe) in length
while an STTI is 0.5 ms (i.e., one slot) in length. In another
embodiment, the length of the STTI is such that it supports the
transmission of two OFDM symbols, or approximately 140 microseconds
(.mu.s) in length. For other embodiments the STTI has any length in
terms of time or number of transmitted symbols subject to the
condition that the STTI is of lesser length than the LTTI. In a
particular embodiment, an LTTI is fourteen symbols in length and an
STTI is two symbols in length.
Enabling or activating a feature, such as STTI, on a device means
to begin using a certain feature or setting and may include
changing a configuration, if another configuration is currently
being used, or setting a status or flag in the device. Disabling or
deactivating a feature on a device means to stop using the feature.
Configuring a device means to make changes within the device based
on a set of parameters stored within the device and/or provided to
the device in order to enable a certain feature or setting.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example environment
100 within which may be implemented methods and devices for DRX for
a shortened TTI length and/or shortened processing time, in
accordance with the present teachings. As illustrated, the
environment 100 includes: a mobile communication network having an
access network 110, which in this case is a radio access network
(RAN); a core network 120; a packet data network (PDN) 130; and two
mobile devices, namely UEs 126 and 128.
The core network 120 includes multiple types of network elements
that are collectively used for the overall control of managing the
connectivity and location of UEs and managing bearers for
communication within the mobile communication network. Bearers are
logical data paths within the mobile communication network with
specific quality of service (QoS) properties. The distribution of
functions between the multiple types of network elements of the
core network 120 depends on a particular system architecture, as
defined, for instance, by a set of protocols implemented in the
mobile communication network.
The RAN 110 includes one or more base stations, which are
collectively used to provide over-the-air connectivity for mobile
devices, communicatively linking them to the core network 120. The
UEs 126 and 128 are representative of a variety of mobile devices
including, for example, cellular telephones, personal digital
assistants (PDAs), smartphones, laptop computers, tablets,
phablets, or other handheld or portable electronic devices.
The RAN 110 can use any type of radio access technology (RAT) for
mobile devices to access and communicate using the mobile
communication network. The access network 110 can be a cellular
access network, having at least one cellular tower or base station
for facilitating the establishment of wireless links by one or more
mobile devices to the access network. Any suitable cellular or
cellular-based access technology can be used. Such technologies
include, but are not limited to: an analog access technology such
as Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS); a digital access technology
such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division
Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile communication
(GSM), integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), General Packet
Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), etc.;
and/or a next generation access technology such as Universal Mobile
Telecommunication System (UMTS), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), etc.; or
variants thereof.
The PDN 130 can be, for instance, an enterprise network, an
Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the Internet,
etc., which has at least one server, e.g., server 118. For a
particular embodiment, the PDN 130 represents a system of
interconnected computer networks that use the standard Transmission
Control Protocol (TCP)/IP suite. One example computer network is a
network operated by a media service provider, which includes one or
more media servers, e.g., a media server 118. The media server 118
stores and shares media or content including, but not limited to,
videos such as YouTube videos or movies, audio such as music,
picture files, or other static and/or dynamic content, some of
which can be HD media.
Additionally, although not shown, environment 100 can further
include other networks coupled to and supported by the core network
120 and accessible to the UEs 126, 128. Such networks can include,
for example, one or more additional PDNs or one or more Wireless
Local Area Networks (WLANs). The WLANs have at least one access
point for facilitating wireless links using, for instance,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11
standards, also referred to in the art as Wi-Fi technology, or
using Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax)
technology.
For particular embodiments described herein with respect to FIGS. 2
through 14, the mobile communication network is a 3rd Generation
Partnership Project (3GPP) network, for instance, an LTE network,
wherein the network elements and the mobile devices are configured
to operate and communicate in accordance with and consistent with
one or more 3GPP standards or technical specifications (TS), for
instance the LTE specifications or the NexGen or 5G specifications.
However, this communication environment 100 implementation is meant
only to serve as an example and in no way limit the disclosed
embodiments, which might alternatively be implemented using other
types of network deployments and associated communication
protocols. Additionally, although only UEs are referenced in the
FIGS. 2 through 14, the teachings can be extended to other types of
mobile devices establishing connections and communicating within
the environment 100.
For the illustrated 3GPP network embodiment 100, the RAN network
110 is an Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRANs)
having at least one base station, in this case four eNBs, namely
eNB 102, eNB 104, eNB 106, and eNB 108. The base stations serve
mobile devices, such as the UEs 126 and 128, by connecting the
mobile devices to the core network 120 and establishing access
network bearers for the mobile devices. Alternatively, the RAN 110
is a legacy UTRAN having at least one eNB. Additionally, although
not shown, the RAN 110 can have multiple segments connected by one
or more RAN routers, with each RAN segment forming a different IP
routing domain. Accordingly, all the mobile devices connected to
the same RAN segment are allocated IP addresses from the same
address space. The core network 120, which serves the RAN 110, is a
System Architecture Evolution (SAE) core, also referred to in the
art as an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). The EPC subcomponents include
a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 112, a Serving Gateway (SGW)
114, a PDN Gateway (PGW) 116, and other subcomponents not shown,
such as a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), etc.
Accordingly, functionality and message exchanges to facilitate the
teachings herein can be implemented with protocols used in 3GPP
networks. Such protocols can include, but need not be limited to,
Non-Access Stratum (NAS) protocols running between the mobile
devices and the core network and Access Stratum (AS) protocols
running between the mobile devices and the eNBs of which Radio
Resource Control (RRC) is an example AS protocol, etc. Some NAS and
AS protocols are defined, for instance, in 3GPP TS 23.401. However,
in other embodiments, proprietary protocols can be used alternative
to or in addition to standard protocols in order to carry out the
present teachings. The particular protocols used, either
proprietary or standard, can depend at least in part on the
particular network architecture.
FIG. 2 shows a logical flow diagram illustrating a method 200 for
monitoring for data transmission scheduling assignments based on a
shortened TTI in accordance with some embodiments. The UE 126, for
example, receives 202 an indication to enable a first TTI, or STTI,
which is a shorter transmission time interval than a second TTI, or
LTTI, for which a device can be enabled. The UE 126 then monitors
204 for data transmission scheduling assignments based on the STTI
instead of under the control of a DRX configuration associated with
the LTTI. For example, the UE 126 switches 204 from monitoring for
data transmission scheduling assignments under the control of a
discontinuous reception configuration associated with the LTTI to
monitoring for the data transmission scheduling assignments based
on the STTI. In one embodiment, the STTI includes a first set of
OFDM symbols, and the LTTI includes a second set of OFDM symbols.
In another embodiment, the UE 126 monitoring data transmission
scheduling assignments includes the UE 126 attempting to decode the
data transmission scheduling assignments. The method 200 is
described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 3 through
8.
FIG. 3 illustrates DRX operation on a UE utilizing both LTTI and
STTI in accordance with some embodiments. These and other
embodiments are described herein by reference to the UE 126 with
the understanding that similar embodiments involve other devices or
other combinations of devices configured to operate using a
wireless network such as that shown by environment 100. In
particular, FIG. 3 shows four timelines 300, 320, 340, and 360,
each illustrating a different embodiment for DRX operation.
Timeline 300 shows DRX operation with a 1 ms TTI length only, as
indicated at 308, consistent with existing art. A DRX cycle 302
begins with an on duration 304. During the on duration 304, the UE
126 actively monitors a PDCCH established with an eNB of the RAN
110, taken to be the eNB 102. The UE 126 monitors for the length of
each TTI of a block 312 of TTIs which spans the on duration 304.
During this time, the UE 126 monitors the PDCCH for a data
transmission scheduling assignment sent by the eNB 102. The PDCCH
carries DL control information (DCI), which via the scheduling
assignment indicates to the UE 126 when to monitor a PDSCH
established with the eNB 102 for a DL data transmission.
The DRX cycle 302 ends with an off duration 306. As used herein,
the term "off duration" represents an opportunity for DRX in that
the off duration can be converted into active scanning time based
on DRX timers. The remainder of the DRX cycle 302 represents an
opportunity for DRX because the UE 126 can actively monitor the
PDCCH during this interval if triggered to do so, such as if a DRX
inactivity timer is still running at the end of the on duration
304. As shown, the UE 126 is not actively monitoring the PDCCH
during the off duration 306. This is to maintain brevity and
simplicity in describing enclosed embodiments.
With blocks 314, 316, and 318 of contiguous TTIs 308, the DRX cycle
302 repeats itself. In each case, an on duration, represented by an
illustrated TTI block, is followed by an accompanying off duration.
The resulting discontinuous monitoring of the PDCCH by the UE 126
allows the UE 126 to realize reduced power utilization, resulting
in extended battery life. The eNB 102 is synced in its timing with
the UE 126 so that data transmission scheduling assignments sent by
the eNB 102 are received by the UE 126 during an on duration. This
is achieved, for example, by sharing configuration parameters for
the DRX cycle 302 between the UE 126 and the eNB 102.
As specified by the 3GPP; Technical Specification Group Radio
Access Network; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access; Medium
Access Control Protocol Specification; Release 14 (TS 36.321
V14.0.0), different DRX parameters define and control different
aspects of a DRX cycle. A DRX Start Offset parameter, for instance,
specifies a subframe at which a DRX cycle begins. A DRX Cycle
parameter specifies the duration of the DRX cycle in subframes, and
a DRY On-Time specifies the duration of the on-time for the DRX
cycle in subframes. In accordance with existing art, a single
subframe has the same length as the TTI 308, namely 1 ms.
In some instances, DRX operation includes both short and long DRX
cycles for a given TTI. As a time since a last transmission was
received increases beyond a threshold time, for example, a UE
experiences deeper sleep in that the off duration for the long DRX
cycle is greater than the off duration for the short DRX cycle. A
Short DRX Cycle parameter, for instance, specifies a number of
PDCCH subframes in the short DRX cycle, and a Long DRY Cycle
parameter specifies a number of PDCCH subframes in the long DRX
cycle. Additionally, a DRY short Cycle Timer parameter might
specify a number of subframes a short DRX cycle repeats before
transitioning to a long DRX cycle, assuming no transmissions are
received.
Timelines 320, 340, and 360 illustrate, in part, innovation of the
present teachings and are referenced and contrasted against
timeline 300 in describing embodiments of some presented claims. In
the timelines 320, 340, and 360, the UE 126 transitions from LTTI
to STTI, at times 324, 344, and 364, respectively, in monitoring a
SPDCCH for data transmission scheduling assignments. In one group
of embodiments, LTTIs 331, 351, and 371 are of the same time length
as the TTI 308, namely 1 ms. In other groups of embodiments, the
LTTI is 331, 351, and 371 are of longer or shorter length than the
TTI 308 while being longer in length then STTIs 333, 353, and 373,
respectively. For illustrated embodiments, LTTIs 331, 351, and 371
are of the same length as the TTI 308. Further, DRX cycles 322,
342, and 362 are of the same length as the DRX cycle 302, sharing
both the same on 304 and off 306 durations and start time. The LTTI
blocks 332, 352, and 372 are shown in time synch with the TTI block
312 to simplify describing presented embodiments.
For timeline 320, the LTTI 331 is the TTI with which the UE 126 is
enabled upon initially connecting to a network. The UE 126, for
example, powers on and connects with a wireless communication
network, such as an LTE network. The UE 126 then monitors a PDCCH,
or an enhanced PDCCH (EPDCCH), for data transmission scheduling
assignments using the LTTI 331. As shown, the UE 126 begins DRX
operation for the LTTI 331 as illustrated by the DRX cycle 322. The
span of the LTTI block 332 represents the on duration of the DRX
cycle 322. As illustrated, the LTTI blocks 332 and 338 are in time
alignment with TTI blocks 312 and 318, respectively. For one
embodiment, the network determines a set of DRX parameters for the
LTTI 331 and communicates the parameters to the UE 126. For
example, the eNB 102 sends the DRX configuration parameters under a
DRX config structure under MAC-MainConfig. In another embodiment,
the UE 126 determines the set of DRX parameters and communicates
those parameters to the eNB 102.
When the UE 126 launches an application which can benefit from
low-latency wireless communication, such as a peer-to-peer gaming
application or a financial trading application, the UE 126
activates 324 a low-latency mode by transitioning from the LTTI 331
to the STTI 333. Under the STTI 333, as shown, the UE 126
continuously monitors for data transmission scheduling assignments.
Continuously monitoring means that there are no periods of
inactivity during which the UE 126 is not scanning a physical
downlink control channel, such as a PDCCH, EPDCCH, LPDCCH, or
SPDCCH, for data transmission scheduling assignments. This is
illustrated for the timeline 320 by the appearance of the
contiguous STTIs 333 for an STTI interval 326 between the STTI 333
activation time 324 and an STTI 333 deactivation time 325. Periods
of scanning inactivity, such as the off duration for the DRX cycle
322, represent times for which reception of a data transmission
scheduling assignment by the UE 126 is delayed at least until the
next active scanning interval. By continuously scanning during STTI
utilization, latency is further reduced as compared to using
DRX.
For some embodiments, the UE 126 continuously monitoring for data
transmission scheduling assignments is preceded by the UE 126
disabling DRX functionality. Disabling DRX functionally means, for
instance, that the UE 126 suspends discontinuous scanning and may
include reconfiguring the UE 126 and/or setting a flag to disable
the DRX functionality. In some instances, DRX functionality is
resumed or reinitialized based on an already implemented set of DRX
configuration parameters, such as by reconfiguring the UE 126 with
the already implemented set of DRX configuration parameters or
otherwise enabling the already implemented set of DRX configuration
parameters. In other instances, DRX functionality is resumed or
reinitialized based on a new set of DRX configuration
parameters.
In the timelines 320 and 340, for example, DRX functionality for
LTTI is resumed based on an already implemented set of LTTI DRX
configuration parameters. This is illustrated by the LTTI blocks
338 and 358 being in time alignment with the TTI block 318. During
the STTI 333 interval 326 for timeline 320 and STTI 353 interval
346 for timeline 340, a clock of the UE 126 continues to track time
for implemented DRX parameters while DRX functionality is
suspended. When DRX functionality is resumed with the deactivation
of STTI, on and off durations align with the same intervals they
would have had if the DRX functionality had been continued without
interruption.
The deactivation 325 of STTI 333 in timeline 320, for example,
occurs before the on duration represented by the TTI block 316
ends. The UE 126 therefore transitions to actively scanning with
LTTI 331 until the on duration ends. This is followed by an
inactive interval 327 before the UE 126 resumes LTTI 331 scanning
for the LTTI block 338. Here, the inactive interval 327 represents
the off duration of the LTTI 331 DRX cycle.
Deactivation 345 of the STTI 353 in timeline 340 occurs after the
on duration represented by the TTI block 316 ends. The UE 126
therefore transitions to an inactive interval 347 shorter than the
off duration of the LTTI 351 DRX cycle before resuming active
scanning for the LTTI block 358 representing the next on
duration.
For timeline 360, disabling DRX functionality when activating 364
the STTI 373 includes disabling the DRX configuration associated
with the LTTI 371. DRX scanning for the LTTI 371 is then
reinitialized based on the same or a new set of DRX configuration
parameters after the STTI 373 scanning is deactivated 365. For the
embodiment shown, STTI 373 scanning is continuous over an STTI 373
interval 366. Because DRX scanning is reinitialized, LTTI block
378, representing an on duration, is not shown in time alignment
with the TTI block 318 or the LTTI blocks 338 or 358. When DRX
scanning is reinitialized with the same DRX configuration
parameters used previously, inactive interval 367 is of the same
duration as the off interval for DRX cycle 362. When DRX scanning
is reinitialized with a different set of DRX configuration
parameters, the inactive interval 367 can be of a different
duration than the off interval for DRX cycle 362.
In one embodiment, the UE 126 receives an indication to disable the
STTI 373 at 365 from the network. The indication, for example, is
transmitted by the eNB 102. The UE 126 then monitors for data
transmission scheduling assignments under the control of a DRX
configuration associated with the LTTI 371. For a further
embodiment, the UE 126 also receives an indication to again enable
LTTI 371 scanning from the network.
In a case for which STTI is configured, for example, via RRC, or
activated, for example, via a medium access control (MAC) control
element (CE), the already configured DRX cycle may be disabled
since configuring/activating STTI is usually associated with
low-latency operation and DRX operation generally introduces
additional latency.
For some embodiments, different on-durations are used before and
after STTI being enabled. For example, more active time is provided
to reduce latency by increasing an on-duration timer. In another
example, the UE 126 uses different DRX Short Cycle Timers before
and after STTI being enabled. For instance, a higher value for the
DRX Short Cycle Timer can be used after STTI is enabled.
FIG. 4 shows a time sequence diagram of a UE monitoring for data
transmission scheduling assignments using both LTTI 414 and STTI
424 at different times. Here, scanning under the STTI 424 is no
longer continuous as it was for embodiments described with
reference to FIG. 3. Both LTTI 414 and STTI 424 scanning are
configured for independent LTTI 410 and STTI 420 DRX cycles. As
shown on timeline 400, the DRX cycle 410 is associated with
configuration parameters resulting in an on duration 412 and an off
duration 413. Whereas, the DRX cycle 420 is associated with
configuration parameters resulting in an on duration 422 and an off
duration 423.
STTI activation occurring at 418 results from the UE 126 receiving
an indication from the eNB 102. In another embodiment, the UE 126
transitions from LTTI 414 scanning to STTI 424 scanning as a result
of a particular application, which benefits from low-latency
wireless communication, launching on the UE 126. In one instance,
active LTTI 414 scanning transitions directly to STTI 424 scanning.
As shown for timeline 400, STTI 424 activation 418 is followed by
an inactive interval 403 before active STTI 424 scanning occurs for
the on duration 422 of the DRX cycle 420. For a particular
embodiment, the duration of the inactive interval 403 is the same
as for the off duration 423 of the DRX cycle 420.
In one embodiment, the STTI 424 is associated with a first DRX
configuration, and the LTTI 414 is associated with a second DRX
configuration, wherein the first and second DRX configurations
include different DRX parameters. The UE 126 enables the first DRX
configuration using the associated DRX parameters to control
monitoring for data transmission scheduling assignments based on
the STTI 424. For another embodiment, the UE 126 disables the
second DRX configuration before enabling the first DRX
configuration.
In a further embodiment, the first DRX configuration provides a
longer active time for monitoring for the data transmission
scheduling assignments than the second DRX configuration. Active
time is a time related to DRX operation, during which the MAC
entity monitors the scheduling assignment (e.g. PDCCH). The same
Active Time can apply to all activated serving cell(s). For
example, the DRX parameters for the first DRX configuration
includes a first on-duration timer value, and the DRX parameters
for the second DRX configuration includes a second on-duration
timer value, so that the longer active time is due at least in part
to the first on-duration timer value being larger than the second
on-duration timer value. This results in the STTI 424 on duration
422 being longer than the LTTI 414 on duration 412. With a longer
on duration 422, there is a greater probability that the UE 126
will receive a data transmission scheduling assignment while
actively scanning without having to wait until the next on
duration.
In an additional embodiment, the off duration 423 for STTI 424
scanning is shorter than the off duration for LTTI 414 scanning.
This further reduces latency as the UE 126 monitors for data
transmission scheduling assignments using the STTI 424.
The UE 126 can receive a first set of DRX parameters for the first
DRX configuration for STTI 424 scanning and a second set of DRX
parameters for the second DRX configuration for LTTI 414 scanning
from the network before receiving the indication to enable STTI 424
scanning. The UE 126, accordingly, selects STTI 424 scanning and
configures itself using the first set of DRX parameters after
receiving the indication to enable STTI 424 scanning, to enable the
first DRX configuration.
The UE 126 can also receive a second set of DRX parameters for the
second DRX configuration for LTTI 414 scanning from the network
before receiving the indication to enable STTI 424. The UE 126
receives a first set of DRX parameters for the first DRX
configuration for STTI 424 scanning from the network at the time of
or after receiving the indication to enable the STTI 424 scanning,
wherein the first DRX parameters are used to enable the first DRX
configuration.
For another embodiment, the UE 126 also monitors for data
scheduling assignments corresponding to LTTI in subframes when the
UE 126 monitors for data scheduling assignments corresponding to
STTI. For example, the UE 126 uses both the LTTI 414 and the STTI
424 for monitoring during the on duration 422.
FIG. 5 shows four timelines 50X), 510, 520, 530 collectively
illustrating the combining of two separate DRX cycles 502, 512 into
a third DRX cycle, 522 or 532, which governs the UE 126 monitoring
for data transmission scheduling assignments. STTI 518 of the
timeline 510 is associated with a first DRX configuration that
represents the DRX cycle 512 having an on duration 514 and an off
duration 516. LTTI 508 of the timeline 500 is associated with a
second DRX configuration that represents the DRX cycle 502 having
an on duration 504 and an off duration 506. In a particular
embodiment, the LTTI 508 is 1 ms in length. The first and second
DRX configurations include different DRX parameters, resulting in
the DRX cycles 502 and 512 having different on and off durations.
The UE 126 determines a third DRX configuration based on the first
and second DRX configurations. It is the third DRX configuration
that controls the UE 126 monitoring for data transmission
scheduling assignments based on both the STTI 518 and the LTTI
508.
The UE 126 determines the third DRX configuration by determining a
union of at least one of the DRX parameters of the first and second
DRX configurations. For one embodiment, determining a union of at
least one of the DRX parameters of the first and second DRX
configurations includes the UE 126 determining a union of a first
active time for monitoring for the data transmission scheduling
assignments and a second active time for monitoring for the data
transmission scheduling assignments, wherein the first active time
is provided by the first DRX configuration and the second active
time is provided by the second DRX configuration.
The union of the on durations 504 and 514 results in an on duration
524, one of two on durations in the DRX cycle 522. Because the on
duration 504 is associated with an expectation of receiving a
scheduling assignment using the LTTI 508, and the on duration 514
is associated with an expectation of receiving a scheduling
assignment using the STTI 518, the UE 126 scans for both types of
scheduling assignments during the on duration 524 by using both the
LTTI 508 and the STTI 518, as indicated by dotted lines. Less than
halfway into the on duration 524, for example, the eNB 102 sends a
data transmission scheduling assignment to the UE 126. The UE 126
is able to receive and decode the transmission regardless of
whether the eNB 102 sent the transmission using the LTTI 508 or the
STTI 518.
In a further embodiment, the UE 126 only scans for STTI 518
transmissions during an on duration 526, the second of the two on
durations for the DRX cycle 522. This is because the on duration
526 results solely from an active on duration of the timeline 510.
The DRX cycle 502 makes no contribution to the union during the off
duration 506. Therefore, there is an expectation that the network
will send only STTI 518 transmissions, and no LTTI 508
transmissions, to the UE 126 during the on duration 526.
The DRX cycle 522 has off durations 525 and 527. Each of the two
off durations 525, 527 represents when off duration 506 for the
timeline 500 overlaps with the off durations of the timeline 510,
when the UE 126 is neither expecting an LTTI 508 nor an STTI 518
transmission from the network.
For another embodiment, determining a union of at least one of the
DRX parameters of the first and second DRX configurations includes
the UE 126 determining a union of a first inactive time for
monitoring for the data transmission scheduling assignments and a
second inactive time for monitoring for the data transmission
scheduling assignments, wherein the first inactive time is provided
by the first DRX configuration and the second inactive time is
provided by the second DRX configuration. The timeline 530, which
includes an on duration 534 and an off duration 536, illustrates
one such embodiment. For the timeline 530, the UE 126 enforces both
the off durations of the timeline 500 and the off durations of the
timeline 510. The timeline 530 shows an off duration when either of
the timelines 500 and 510 show an off duration, which includes when
both of the timelines 500 and 510 show an off duration.
FIG. 6 shows a time sequence diagram illustrating various DRX
parameters used to establish a DRX cycle in accordance with prior
art. In addition to the parameters associated with the timeline 300
of FIG. 3, a timeline 600 of FIG. 6 also illustrates parameters
connected to an inactivity timer interval 624, a hybrid automatic
repeat request round trip (HARQ RTT) timer interval 626, and a
retransmission timer interval 628. The established DRX cycle
presented in FIG. 6 is associated with a TTI one subframe in length
corresponding to a 1 ms duration.
A set of DRX configuration parameters controls the expiration of
the various timers illustrated in FIG. 6. The passage of time over
which the timers run is measured by a clock internal to the UE 126.
In some instances, the clock of the UE 126 is synched, up to a
constant shift or timing advance, with a clock of the network when
the UE 126 receives timekeeping signals from the network.
For a time interval 612, an on-duration timer for DRX cycle 610
starts and runs until its expiration. During this time, the UE 126
actively monitors for data transmission scheduling assignments. For
the remainder of the DRX cycle 610, the UE 126 sleeps and does not
actively scan for data transmission scheduling assignments. This
provides power savings at the expense of latency.
As the on-duration timer again runs over a time interval 622 at the
beginning of DRX cycle 620, the UE 126 receives a data transmission
scheduling assignment from the eNB 102 at time 605. Reception of
the data transmission scheduling assignment initializes the
inactivity timer which runs over the time interval 624. The UE 126
continues to scan for data transmission scheduling assignments
beyond the expiration of the on-duration timer corresponding to the
time interval 622 until the inactivity timer corresponding to the
time interval 624 expires. Reception of the data transmission
scheduling assignment at time 605 causes the UE 126 to actively
scan during the DRX cycle 620 longer than it otherwise would have.
The philosophy is that if the network is actively communicating
with the UE 126, then the network is more likely to send another
communication in the near future than if the data transmission
scheduling assignment at time 605 had not been received. If another
data transmission scheduling assignment is received before the
inactivity timer corresponding to the time interval 624 expires,
then the inactivity timer corresponding to the time interval 624 is
reinitialized, again extending the period of active scanning by the
UE 126.
Reception at 605 of the data transmission scheduling assignment for
scheduling a data transmission corresponding to a HARQ process also
starts the HARQ RTT timer for that HARQ process, which runs over
the time interval 626. The parameter controlling the duration 626
of the HARQ RTT timer specifies the minimum number of subframes, or
1 ms TTIs, before a downlink retransmission of the data
transmission scheduled by the scheduling assignment transmitted at
time 605 is expected from the network. After the network sends the
data transmission scheduling assignment the UE 126 is shown to
receive at time 605, the network waits to receive an
acknowledgement (ACK) that the UE 126 received and successfully
decoded the corresponding data transmission.
Sometimes, the UE 126 does not receive a transmission, or if it
does receive the transmission, it fails to decode it. For a data
transmission that was not successfully decoded, the network does
not get an ACK back from the UE 126. This triggers the network to
send another data transmission scheduling assignment after the HARQ
RTT timer corresponding to the time interval 626 expires and during
the time interval 628 when the retransmission timer is running and
the UE 126 is actively scanning for the transmission. After the
retransmission timer expires, the UE 126 sleeps until the next DRX
cycle when the on-duration timer again runs over the time duration
632.
The parameter that controls the time duration 626 the HARQ RTT
timer runs is chosen to account for a "round-trip" transmission
time and processing time for the UE 126 to decode a data
transmission. Only when the network fails to receive an ACK, or it
receives a negative acknowledgement (NACK), does the network resend
the data. Therefore, the HARQ RTT parameter takes into account the
travel time of the data transmission to the UE 126, the processing
time for the UE 126 to decode the transmission, and the time for
the UE's ACK to reach and be processed by the network.
FIG. 7 shows a time sequence diagram illustrating DRX functionality
for a shortened TTI length with the UE 126 receiving control
information from the network in two parts, also referred to herein
as "levels," at two discrete times. In particular, FIG. 7 shows a
timeline 710 for which the UE 126 actively scans for two-level data
transmission scheduling assignments using STTI 706. Two contiguous
1 ms subframes 720, 730 are shown, each framed by a bold border and
each having a span of seven contiguous 143 .mu.s STTIs 706. Under
ideal conditions, the UE 126 receives a first-level DCI at 722
during the first STTI of the subframe 720. The first-level DCI
includes information the UE 126 uses to decode a second-level DCI
received at 724, during the sixth STTI of the subframe 720. Under
less than ideal conditions, the UE 126 fails to receive or fails to
decode the first-level DCI at 722. The UE 126 discontinues scanning
because it does not have the information from the first-level DCI
to decode the second part of the scheduling assignment.
For an embodiment in accordance with the present teachings, the UE
126 monitoring for data transmission scheduling assignments based
on the STTI 706 includes the UE 126 monitoring for the data
transmission scheduling assignments under the control of a DRX
configuration associated with the STTI 706 and specified by a set
of DRX parameters. The UE 126 is configured for an active time for
performing the monitoring and an inactive time for disabling the
monitoring, wherein the active and inactive times are based on a
first parameter of the set of DRX parameters. When the UE 126
detects only one part of a two-part scheduling assignment while
monitoring during the active time, it extends the active time by an
additional time period to continue performing the monitoring,
wherein the additional time period is based on a second parameter
of the set of DRX parameters.
As shown, for example, the UE 126 fails to receive the first-level
DCI at 722 while an inactivity timer is running over a time period
728. The UE 126 does, however, receive the second part of the
scheduling assignment at 724 but is unable to decode it for lack of
having received the first part. Had the UE 126 received and decoded
the two-part scheduling assignment in its entirety, it would have
extended the inactivity timer by an additional time period 738. For
the illustrated embodiment, reception of the second-level DCI at
724 alone serves as an indication to the UE 126 that the network is
attempting to schedule it. As a consequence, the UE 126 extends the
inactivity timer and continues to actively scan for the network's
next scheduling transmissions, for example, to receive a first- and
second-level DCI at 732 and 734, respectively. For the embodiment
shown, the inactivity timer is extended by an additional time
period of one subframe in length. In other embodiments, the
additional time period by which the inactivity timer is extended
can amount to any number of subframes or individual STTIs.
FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method 800 involving DRX
functionality for receiving control information in two parts while
using a shortened TTI length. The method 800 begins with the UE 126
determining 802 if its DRX mode is configured and enabled. If the
DRX mode is not enabled on the UE 126, then the UE 126 monitors 804
an SPDCCH (a PDCCH using STTI) for second-level DCI decoding
candidates in subframes where a first level DCI is decoded. If the
first-level DCI is decoded, then the second-level DCI is a
candidate for decoding. If the first-level DCI is not successfully
decoded, then the second-level DCI is not a candidate for decoding
because the UE 126 cannot decode the second-level DCI without
having decoded the first level DCI. With DRX disabled, the UE 126
scans continuously and receives the next two-level DCI transmission
from the network in a following subframe.
If the UE 126 determines 802 its DRX mode is configured and
enabled, then the UE 126 monitors 808 the SPDCCH for second-level
decoding candidates in subframes for which a first-level DCI is
monitored, whether the detected first-level DCI is successfully
decoded or not. If the first-level DCI is decoded, then the UE 126
monitors for and decodes the second-level DCI. If the first-level
DCI is not decoded, the UE 126 still monitors for the second-level
DCI as a decoding candidate even though the second-level DCI cannot
be decoded. In this case, receiving the second-level DCI triggers
an extension of the inactivity timer by an additional time period
when the DRX mode is enabled on the UE 126.
In another embodiment, as indicated by broken lines, the UE 126
determines 806 if the eNB 102 has enabled a partial SPDCCH
monitoring feature while the DRX mode is enabled on the UE 126. If
the partial SPDCCH monitoring feature is enabled on the UE 126 by
the eNB 102, then the UE 126 monitors 808 the SPDCCH for
second-level decoding candidates in subframes for which a
first-level DCI is decoded or only monitored and not necessarily
decoded as previously described for box 808. If, however, the UE
126 determines 806 partial SPDCCH monitoring is not enabled, then
the UE 126 monitors 804 the SPDCCH for second-level DCI decoding
candidates in subframes where a first level DCI is decoded as
previously described for box 804.
Partial SPDCCH monitoring allows for selective monitoring of
second-level DCI decoding candidates when a DRX mode is enabled on
the UE 126. In particular, it allows the network to control when to
monitor for second-level DCI decoding candidates given that a
first-level DCI is monitored but not decoded. For some embodiments,
the network activates or deactivates selective monitoring depending
upon values for DRX configuration parameters. In other embodiments,
the network activates or deactivates selective monitoring on the UE
126 depending upon traffic type as determined by an identifiable
category of communication occurring between the network and the UE
126. The network, for example, communicates a selective monitoring
setting to the UE 126 using physical-layer or higher-layer
signaling.
FIG. 9 shows a logical flow diagram illustrating a method 900 for
determining a timer value based on DRX operation using a shortened
TTI in accordance with some embodiments. The UE 126, for example,
monitors 902 for data transmission scheduling assignments during an
active time of a DRX cycle. During the active time, the UE 126
detects 904 a transmission. The UE 126 then starts 906 a first
timer set for a first timer value that specifies an amount of time
between detecting the transmission and starting a second timer that
extends the active time by a second timer value. For some
embodiments, the first timer is a HARQ RTT timer and the second
timer is a retransmission timer. The method 900 is described in
greater detail with reference to FIGS. 10 through 12.
FIG. 10 shows a time sequence diagram illustrating various DRX
parameters used to establish a DRX cycle in accordance with the
present teachings. The sequence diagram includes a timeline 1000
showing a DRX cycle 1010 having an on-duration time interval 1012,
a DRX cycle 1020 having an on-duration time interval 1022, and
another on-duration time interval 1032 beginning a next DRX cycle.
For some embodiments, the DRX cycles 1010 and 1020 have the same
DRX configuration parameters.
In one embodiment, the UE 126 monitors for data transmission
scheduling assignments during an active time of the DRX cycle 1020
and detects a data transmission scheduling assignment during the
active time at time 1005. The UE 126 starts a first timer, in
response to the detecting, wherein the first timer is set for a
first timer value that specifies an amount of time 1026 between
detecting the transmission and starting a second timer that extends
the active time by a second timer value specifying an amount of
time 1028. The first timer value is determined based on one or both
of a selected first TTI length from multiple TTI lengths for which
the UE 126 can be enabled and/or a selected shorter first
processing time over a second processing time associated with a TTI
length used by the UE 126.
The UE 126, for example, receives a data transmission scheduling
assignment at 1005 while using STTI to monitor an SPDCCH over the
time interval 1022. The UE 126 then starts the first timer, which
is set for a first timer value of 4 ms. At a later time (not shown)
the UE 126 receives another data transmission scheduling assignment
while using LTTI to monitor a PDCCH. The UE 126 then starts the
first timer, which is now set for a first timer value of 8 ms. In
further embodiments, the second timer value also depends upon
whether the UE 126 is scanning using STTI or LTTI.
For some embodiments, the first timer value is a HARQ RTT timer
value used by the UE 126, and the second timer value is a DRX
retransmission timer value used by the UE 126. In additional
embodiments, the HARQ RTT timer value used by the UE 126 is a
different from a HARQ RTT timer value used by a different UE, such
as the UE 128. The RAN 110, for example, accommodates different UEs
using different HARQ RTT timer values. In particular, the eNB 102
waits for varying amounts of time before sending data
retransmissions to the UEs 126 and 128. In some embodiments, the
varying amounts of time are due to the transmission to the UE 126
being a STTI transmission and the transmission to the UE 128 being
an LTTI transmission, wherein the STTI time interval is shorter
than the LTTI time interval.
In one embodiment, a first TTI length, associated with an STTI, is
used for sending the data transmission scheduling assignment that
was detected during the active time interval 1022 at the time 1005.
Based on this, the UE 126 uses a particular first timer value
associated with the first TTI length. Later, the UE 126 receives
another data transmission scheduling assignment using a second TTI
length, associated with a LTTI. The UE 126 responsively uses
another first timer value associated with the second TTI length.
For an additional embodiment, the second timer value the UE 126
uses also depends upon whether a data transmission scheduling
assignment, which could not be decoded, was received using the
first or the second TTI length.
For some embodiments, the UE 126 determines the first timer value
and then communicates the first timer value to the network, for
example, via the eNB 102. In other embodiments, the network
determines the first timer value for the UE 126, and the UE 126
receives the first timer value from the network. For a particular
embodiment, the first timer value corresponds to a particular
downlink HARQ process.
In one embodiment, the UE 126 extends the active time interval 1022
using an inactivity timer if the UE 126 receives either an LTTI or
an STTI grant. In a further embodiment, the value of the inactivity
timer depends on whether the US 126 receives an LTTI or an STTI
grant.
FIG. 11 shows time sequence diagrams illustrating the first timer
value being determined based on a processing time associated with a
TTI length used by the UE 126. As shown, the first timer is a HARQ
RTT timer and the second timer is a retransmission timer,
consistent with the UE 126 operating within an LTE network for some
embodiments. For both timelines 1110 and 1120, the UE 126 monitors
a PDCCH for data transmission scheduling assignments using LTTI
with an associated length of one subframe or 1 ms.
On the timeline 1110, the UE 126 receives a data transmission
scheduling assignment at time 1116 occurring for the third LTTI of
an on-duration time interval 1112. The UE 126 receives and
processes the data transmission scheduled by the received data
transmission scheduling assignment using LTTI but is unable to
decode it. The HARQ RTT timer starts with the reception of the data
transmission scheduling assignment at the time 1116 and runs for 8
ms, spanning eight subframes, before expiring at time 1118 when a
retransmission timer sets. The retransmission timer runs for two
subframes over a time interval 1114. During this time, the UE 126
actively monitors the PDCCH for another data transmission
scheduling assignment corresponding to the retransmission of the
data transmission. With the UE 126 using LTTI, the HARQ RTT timer
value of eight subframes provides sufficient time for the UE 126 to
decode received data transmissions and to send ACKs to the network,
thereby canceling automatic retransmission of data that is
successfully decoded by the UE 126.
Timeline 1120 is associated with a shorter HARQ RTT timer value due
to shorter processing times where the UE 126 uses slot-length STTI
capability for processing received data transmission scheduling
assignments and data transmissions as opposed to subframe-length
LTTI-based processing. On the timeline 1120, the UE 126 receives a
data transmission scheduling assignment at time 1126 occurring for
the third LTTI of an on-duration time interval 1122. The UE 126
receives and processes the corresponding data transmission using
STTI capability but is unable to decode it.
The HARQ RTT timer starts with the reception of the data
transmission scheduling assignment at the time 1126 and runs for
only 4 ms, 4 ms less than for LTTI-based processing capability,
before expiring at time 1128. The retransmission timer runs for two
subframes over a time interval 1124 during which retransmission of
the data transmission is expected. Using STTI for processing, the
HARQ RTT timer value of four subframes provides sufficient time for
the UE 126 to decode received data transmissions and to send ACKs
to the network, thereby canceling automatic retransmissions of data
transmissions that are successfully decoded.
For several embodiments, the UE 126 is capable of using a shorter
TTI than a standard 1 ms TTI but uses the standard 1 ms TTI with a
shorter processing time. This is based on only part of the
processing time being dependent on the TTI length. For an
embodiment of PDSCH operation, the UE 126 performs the following
tasks: decode the DL grant, channel estimation for PDSCH
demodulation, PDSCH data turbo decoding, prepare the related
Ack-Nack for transmission start the Ack-Nack transmission on
PUCCH/PUSCH 3 TTIs (i.e. in N+4) after the end of the DL TTI
carrying the PDSCH. In some instances, the above tasks are almost
independent of the TTI length. Therefore, the total processing time
of legacy 1 ms TTI can be reduced to 2 ms, as an example of the UE
126 having slot-level STTI capability, assuming linear scaling of
the processing time with supported shortened TTI length.
In some embodiments for which the first timer value is determined,
at least in part, from a shorter first processing time selected
over a longer second processing time associated with a TTI length
used by the UE 126, the shorter first processing time is based on a
minimum time duration between receiving an uplink grant during an
active time of the UE 126 and a corresponding uplink transmission
by the UE 126. For example, the UE 126 receives an UL grant from
the eNB 102 on a control channel, such as a PDCCH, and references
an associated time using a clock internal to the UE 126 or timing
signals received from a network via the eNB 102. After processing
the UL grant, the UE 126 makes an uplink transmission on a PUSCH
and again references an associated time. The UE 126 takes a
difference between the referenced times to get a time interval used
in determining the first processing time.
In another embodiment, the network measures a time interval from
when it sends the UL grant to the UE 126 to when it receives the UL
transmission from the UE 126. The network determines the first
timer value from the measured time interval and communicates the
first timer value to the UE 126.
For other embodiments, the shorter first processing time is based
on a minimum time duration between the UE 126 receiving downlink
data and corresponding downlink HARQ feedback transmitted by the UE
126. For example, the UE 126 receives a DL transmission from the
eNB 102 on a PDSCH and references an associated time using a clock
internal to the UE 126 or timing signals received from a network
via the eNB 102. After processing the DL transmission to decode its
contents, the UE 126 transmits a corresponding ACK on a PUCCH or a
PUSCH and again references an associated time. The UE 126 takes a
difference between the referenced times to get a time interval used
in determining the first processing time.
In another embodiment, the network measures a time interval from
when it sends the DL transmission to the UE 126 to when it receives
the ACK from the UE 126. The network determines the first timer
value from the measured time interval and communicates the first
timer value to the UE 126.
For a number of embodiments, the PUSCH transmission time is based
on the first processing time. Therefore, the first timer value is
determined based on the first processing time the UE 126 is capable
of. For example, the HARQ RTT timer value is determined by the
capability of the UE to support faster receptions and transmissions
rather than by a measured time difference.
FIG. 12 shows a block diagram illustrating a method for determining
a first timer value, for example, a HARQ RTT timer value, in
accordance with some embodiments for which the first timer value is
adjustable based on one or more adjustment factors. For instance,
the UE 126 monitoring for data transmission scheduling assignments
based on an STTI includes the UE 126 monitoring for the data
transmission scheduling assignments under the control of a DRX
configuration associated with the STTI. The DRX configuration is
associated with a set of DRX parameters having a first timer value
and a second timer value, wherein the first timer value specifies
an amount of time between detecting a transmission, while
performing the monitoring, and starting a timer for the second
timer value, wherein the first timer value is adjustable based on
one or more adjustment factors.
In particular, FIG. 12 shows either a UE 1226 or an eNB 1202,
depending upon the embodiment, determining or adjusting a HARQ RTT
timer value 1250 based on one or more adjustment factors from a set
of adjustment factors. The set of adjustment factors shown includes
a transport block size (TBS) restriction 1232, a TBS 1234, TBS
parameters 1236, a timing advance (TA) restriction 1238, shortened
processing time capability 1240, STTI capability 1242, and a TTI
length 1244. For an embodiment, the UE 1226 receives, from a
network, at least one timer value adjustment factor, which the UE
1226 uses in determining the first timer value. Also, the UE 1226
may be configured via higher layers to operate in a low-latency
transmission mode using 1 ms TTI.
The time it takes the UE 1226 to process a received DL transmission
can depend upon the UE 1226 having STTI capability 1242, or with
more specificity, upon which TTI length 1244 the UE 1226 is using
in particular. The UE 1226 having a shortened processing time
capability 1240, as described above with respect to FIG. 11, can
also provide information on how quickly the UE 1226 can process
received DL transmissions. By extension, because HARQ RTT timer
values allow for signal processing, these timer value adjustment
factors play a part in determining the best value for which to set
a HARQ RTT timer.
Additional timer value adjustment factors include those related to
TBS. A transport block is data given by an upper layer of a network
to its physical layer for transmission. The TBS 1234 is the amount
of data transmitted with each TTI. In some instances, there is a
TBS restriction 1232 in which the actual data payload for a TTI is
less than a full amount of data the TTI can carry. The data payload
of a TTI might be restricted, for example, if STTI signal
processing is being used to decode LTTI transmissions. In some
instances the UE 1226 or the eNB 1202 uses TBS parameters 1236 in
addition to or in place of the TBS 1234 in determining the HARQ RTT
timer value 1250. TBS parameters 1236 can include data used in
calculating a TBS 1234, such as a number of physical resource
blocks and/or a modulation and coding scheme. In some instances,
the TBS parameters 1236 are used to determine the TBS restriction
1232.
The TA is a negative time offset the UE 1226 applies to a UL
transmission the UE 1226 sends to the eNB 1202 after receiving a DL
transmission from the eNB 1202. UEs apply TAs to synchronize DL and
UL subframes at the eNB 1202. The TA takes into account the travel
time of a transmission between the UE 1226 and the eNB 1202, which
is directly proportional to the distance between the UE 1226 and
the eNB 1202. The eNB 1202, for example, makes synchronized
transmissions to a group of UEs. Each UE receives its transmission
at a different time because each UE has a different distance from
the eNB 1202. Each UE then advances its responsive UL transmission
to the eNB 1202 by a TA of twice a distance-dependent propagation
time for that UE. In so doing, the responsive UL transmissions from
the group of UEs are synchronized in their arrival at the eNB
1202.
TAs can affect processing time for received DL transmission because
some of the time otherwise available for processing might be needed
in applying the TA. Generally, due to a larger TA, a UE which is
further away from an eNB has less time to process a DL transmission
than a UE which is closer to the eNB and receives the transmission
earlier. In different embodiments, different eNBs impose different
TA restrictions 1238. TAs, for example, can be restricted to be
less than a maximum value and/or be limited to a finite number of
discrete values.
For some embodiments, at least one received timer value adjustment
factor includes one or more of: a set of TBS parameters 1236; a TBS
1234; a TBS restriction 1232; or a TA restriction 1238. In one
embodiment, the UE 1226 receives the set of TBS parameters from the
network and determines the TBS 1234 based on the TBS parameters
1236. Based on the TBS 1234, the UE 1226 determines the TBS
restriction 1238 used in determining the first timer value. For
another embodiment, the UE 1226 receives the TBS 1234 from the
network and determines, based on the TBS 1234, the TBS restriction
1232 used in determining the first timer value.
For a particular embodiment, multiple TBS restriction values are
stored on the UE 1226, for example, in its memory. Based on a TBS
1234 or a set of TBS parameters 1236 the UE 1226 receives from the
eNB 1202, the UE 1226 selects a TBS restriction 1232 from the
multiple stored values. In one instance, the UE 1226 uses a look-up
table to select the TBS restriction 1232 from the multiple stored
TBS restriction values.
The UE 1226 can also receive a control signal from the network.
Based on the received control signal, the UE 1226 selects a first
transmission time interval from which the UE 1226 determines the
first timer value. For example, the control signal can be a radio
resource control (RRC) signal, MAC-CE signal, or a SPDCCH/PDCCH
signal indicating the TTI length.
Setting a proper value for a HARQ RTT timer can reduce scheduling
delay due to DRX operation and/or conserve energy. Further, there
could be multiple HARQ processes with each HARQ process having a
different HARQ RTT timer value. For one embodiment involving
downlink spatial multiplexing, if a transport block (TB) is
received while a HARQ RTT timer is running and if the previous
transmission of the same TB was received at least N subframes
before the current subframe (where N corresponds to the HARQ RTT
Timer), then the MAC entity processes the TB and restarts the HARQ
RTT timer.
In another embodiment, the UE 1226 determines a minimum timing
based on a scheduled TBS and TBS restriction. Based on the
scheduled TB size (maximum TB size in case of more than single
scheduled TB), the minimum timing can be n+2 or n+3, for example,
for a DL grant sent on subframe "n." The minimum timing for UL
grant to UL data and for DL data to DL HARQ for 1 ms TTI with
shortened processing can be adjusted based on the scheduled TB size
and TBS restrictions. If the UE 1226 is scheduled with a TBS larger
than that of its corresponding TBS restriction(s) while operating
in reduced-processing mode, the UE 1226 discards the grant.
For one embodiment, a maximum TA restriction changes for the UE
1226 as the UE 1226 moves from a first cell with a first maximum TA
restriction to a second cell with a second maximum TA restriction.
The different maximum TA restrictions affect the processing time
capability of the UE 1226. The UE 1226 determines a new processing
time capability and adjusts its HARQ RTT timer value 1250.
For several embodiments, different HARQ processes may have
different HARQ RTT timer values. For example, different HARQ
processes could have different TTI lengths and/or TBS restrictions.
The eNB 1202 can send the HARQ RTT timer value for the UE 1226 (or
a group of UEs) via a PDCCH in a common search space. The eNB 1202
can send the HARQ RTT timer value for the UE 1226 via dedicated
higher layer signaling such as MAC-CE or RRC.
FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of a UE 1300, which for particular
embodiments represents the UE 126 or the UE 1226. In other
embodiments, the UE 1300 represents a smartwatch, a phablet, a
tablet, a personal media player, a personal or enterprise digital
assistant, a laptop, a personal computer, or any other electronic
device that operates in accordance with the teachings herein.
Included in the block diagram are a processor 1302, one or more
input components 1304, one or more communication interfaces 1306,
memory 1308, one or more output components 1310, and sensors 1312,
which are all operatively interconnected by a bus 1314. A limited
number of components 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312, 1314 are
shown in the UE 1300 for ease of illustration. Other embodiments
may include a lesser or greater number of components in a UE.
Moreover, other components needed for a commercial embodiment of a
UE that incorporates the components shown are omitted from FIG. 13
for clarity with respect to the embodiments described.
In general, the processor 1302 is configured with functionality in
accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure as described
herein with respect to the previous figures. "Configured,"
"adapted," "operative," or "capable," as used herein, means that
indicated components are implemented using one or more hardware
elements, such as one or more operatively coupled processing cores,
memory elements, and interfaces, which may or may not be programmed
with software and/or firmware, as the means for the indicated
components to implement their desired functionality. Such
functionality is supported by the other hardware shown in FIG. 13,
including the device components 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, and 1312,
which are all operatively interconnected with the processor 1302 by
the bus 1314.
The processor 1302, for instance, includes arithmetic logic and
control circuitry necessary to perform the digital processing, in
whole or in part, for the UE 1300 to utilize a shortened TTI length
and/or a shortened processing time associated with a longer TTI
length in accordance with described embodiments. For one
embodiment, the processor 1302 represents a primary microprocessor,
also referred to as a central processing unit (CPU), of the UE
1300. For example, the processor 1302 can represent an application
processor of a smartphone. In another embodiment, the processor
1302 is an ancillary processor, separate from the CPU, wherein the
ancillary processor is dedicated to providing the processing
capability, in whole or in part, needed for the components of the
UE 1300 to perform at least some of their intended functionality.
For one embodiment, the ancillary processor is a graphical
processing unit (GPU) for a touchscreen or another graphical output
component.
The memory 1308 provides storage of electronic data used by the
processor 1302 in performing its functionality. For example, the
processor 1302 can use the memory 1308 to load programs and/or
store files associated with the UE 1300 utilizing a shortened TTI
length and/or a shortened processing time associated with a longer
TTI length. In one embodiment, the memory 1308 represents random
access memory (RAM). In other embodiments, the memory 1308
represents volatile or non-volatile memory. For a particular
embodiment, a portion of the memory 1308 is removable. For example,
the processor 1302 can use RAM to cache data while it uses a micro
secure digital (microSD) card to store files associated with
looking up TBS restrictions.
The input component 1304 and the output component 1310 represent
user-interface components of the UE 1300 configured to allow a
person to use, program, or otherwise interact with the UE 1300.
Different UEs for different embodiments include different
combinations of input 1304 and output 1310 components. A
touchscreen, for example, functions both as an output component
1310 and an input component 1304 for some embodiments by allowing a
user to use an application that is optimized by the use of STTI
and/or shorter processing times. Peripheral devices for other
embodiments, such as keyboards, mice, and touchpads, represent
input components 1304 that enable a user to configure applications
that benefit from the use of STTI and/or shorter processing times.
A speaker is an output component 1310 that for some embodiments
allows the UE 1300 to acoustically prompt a user for input.
Particular embodiments include an acoustic transducer, such as a
microphone, as an input component 1304 that converts received
acoustic signals into electronic signals, which can be processed
for voice recognition. In a further embodiment, the UE 1300
includes one or more imaging devices as input components 1304, such
as cameras.
One or more communication interfaces 1306 allow for communication
between the UE 1300 and a RAN of a wireless communication system,
such as the communication system shown for the environment 100. The
one or more communication interfaces 1306 also allow the UE 1300 to
communicate with other electronic devices, such as web servers or
file-storage devices, configured to support the UE 1300 in
performing its described functionality. From these other devices,
for example, the EU 1300 can download and/or update software
programs which configure the UE 1300 for using STTI and/or a
shortened processing time for received data transmission scheduling
assignments.
For one embodiment, the communication interfaces 1306 include a
cellular transceiver to enable the UE 1300 to communicate with
other devices using one or more cellular networks. Cellular
networks can use any wireless technology that, for example, enables
broadband and Internet Protocol (IP) communications including, but
not limited to, 3.sup.rd Generation (3G) wireless technologies such
as CDMA2000 and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)
networks or 4.sup.th Generation (4G) wireless networks such as LTE
and WiMAX.
In another embodiment, the communication interfaces 1306 include a
wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver that allows the UE
1300 to access the Internet using standards such as Wi-Fi. The WLAN
transceiver allows the UE 1300 to send and receive radio signals to
and from similarly equipped electronic devices using a wireless
distribution method, such as a spread-spectrum or orthogonal
frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) method. For some
embodiments, the WLAN transceiver uses an IEEE 802.11 standard to
communicate with other electronic devices in the 2.4, 3.6, 5, and
60 GHz frequency bands. In a particular embodiment, the WLAN
transceiver uses Wi-Fi interoperability standards as specified by
the Wi-Fi Alliance to communicate with other Wi-Fi certified
devices.
The sensors 1312 included in some embodiments, as indicated by
broken lines, allow the UE 1300 to detect events or environmental
changes beyond direct user-initiated input received through the
input component 1304. Sensors 1312 can include, but are not limited
to, accelerometers, gyrometers, contact sensors, and thermal
sensors. The gyrometer, for example, detects an angular velocity or
a rate of rotation for the UE 1300 about one or more axes. Contact
sensors detect a user's grip on the UE 1300. A single-axis or a
multiple-axis accelerometer measures acceleration for the UE 1300
in one or more directions, and thermal sensors detect a position of
a user with respect to the UE 1300. For one embodiment, the
combination of sensors 1312 provide data to the UE 1300 which
allows the UE 1300 to make a determination that a user is gaming on
the UE 1300. If the gaming is such that it would benefit from
low-latency communication with a wireless network, a remote
peer-to-peer game, for example, the UE 1300 initiates STTI and/or
shorter processing times in accordance with embodiments described
herein.
A power supply included in the UE 1300 (not pictured) represents a
power source that supplies electric power to the device components
1302, 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312, 1314, as needed, during the
course of their normal operation. The power is supplied to meet the
individual voltage and load requirements of the UE 1300 components
1302, 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312, 1314 that draw electric
current. For some embodiments, the power supply is a wired power
supply that provides direct current from alternating current using
a full- or half-wave rectifier. For other embodiments, the power
supply is a battery that powers up and runs the UE 1300. For a
particular embodiment, the battery is a rechargeable power source.
A rechargeable power source for a UE is configured to be
temporarily connected to another power source external to the
electronic device to restore a charge of the rechargeable power
source when it is depleted or less than fully charged. In another
embodiment, the battery is simply replaced when it no longer holds
sufficient charge.
FIG. 14 shows a block diagram of an eNB 1400, which for particular
embodiments represents the eNB 102 or the eNB 1202. Included in the
block diagram are a processor 1402, one or more communication
interfaces 1404, and memory 1406, which are all operatively
interconnected by a bus 1408. A limited number of components 1402,
1404, 1406, 1408 are shown in the eNB 1400 for ease of
illustration, and other embodiments may include a lesser or greater
number of components in an eNB.
The processor 1402, for instance, includes arithmetic logic and
control circuitry necessary to perform the digital processing, in
whole or in part, for the eNB 1400 to support UEs operating with a
shortened TTI length and/or a shortened processing time in
accordance with described embodiments. For some embodiments, the
processor 1402 represents multiple microprocessors which can
operate in parallel to perform a common task or operate
independently to perform separate tasks. In other instances, the
processor 1402 has multiple processing cores. For one embodiment,
the processor 1402 provides for encryption, decryption, and
authentication, including support for Kasumi and/or SNOW3G ciphers,
for example; ingress and egress packet parsing and management;
packet ordering; TCP segmentation offload, and hardware time
stamping. In another embodiment, the processor 1402 provides the
processing capability, in whole or in part, needed for the
communication interfaces 1404 of the eNB 1400 to perform at least
some of their intended functionality.
The communication interfaces 1404 allow for communications, using
various protocols, between the eNB 1400 and UEs and also between
the eNB 1400 and entities within a wireless communication network
of which the eNB 1400 is a part. The communication interfaces 1404
support, for example, in an embodiment consistent with LTE, a Uu
interface between the eNB 102 and the UE 1300; a S1-MME IP
interface between the eNB 102 and the MME 112; an X2 interface
between the eNB 102 and eNBs 104, 106, and 108; and an S1-U user
plane interface between the eNB 102 and the SGW 114.
The memory 1406 provides storage of electronic data used by the
processor 1402 in performing its functionality. For example, the
processor 1402 can use the memory 1406 to load programs, store
files, and/or cache data associated with the eNB 1400 providing
support for UEs to operate with a shortened TTI length and/or a
shortened processing time in accordance with described embodiments.
In one embodiment, the memory 1406 represents RAM. In other
embodiments, the memory 1406 represents volatile or non-volatile
memory. For a particular embodiment, a portion of the memory 1406
is removable, replaceable, and/or scalable.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been
described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates
that various modifications and changes can be made without
departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the
claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be
regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and
all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope
of present teachings.
The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s)
that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or
become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical,
required, or essential features or elements of any or all the
claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims
including any amendments made during the pendency of this
application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and
second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to
distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action
without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such
relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms
"comprises," "comprising," "has," "having," "includes,"
"including," "contains," "containing" or any other variation
thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that
a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,
includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those
elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or
inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element
proceeded by "comprises . . . a," "has . . . a," "includes . . .
a," or "contains . . . a" does not, without more constraints,
preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the
process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,
includes, contains the element. The terms "a" and "an" are defined
as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms
"substantially," "essentially," "approximately," "about" or any
other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood
by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting
embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another
embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in
another embodiment within 0.5%. The term "coupled" as used herein
is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not
necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is
"configured" in a certain way is configured in at least that way,
but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
It will be appreciated that some embodiments may include one or
more generic or specialized processors (or "processing devices")
such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized
processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique
stored program instructions (including both software and firmware)
that control the one or more processors to implement, in
conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all
of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein.
Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a
state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or
more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which
each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are
implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two
approaches could be used.
Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable
storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for
programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a
method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such
computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to,
a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic
storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read
Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a
Flash memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill,
notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices
motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and
economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles
disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such
software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal
experimentation.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to
quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is
submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to
interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition,
in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various
features are grouped together in various embodiments for the
purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure
is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the
claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly
recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect,
inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single
disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby
incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim
standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
* * * * *
References